S34: Malcolm Freberg

[Jabu]

Hi.  I'm from Philippines and Caramoan (aka Fans vs. Favorites 2).  And I want to make big moves again, but with more finesse.

He'd better be careful to not make himself a Joe-type threat this time around.

[KimberStormer]

He can't because he's not like Joe at all!  Where do people get this?  Is it the hair?

Malcom's not a challenge beast.  He's fine.  But he's not great in any way.  Matsing lost every challenge!  He wasn't impressive in individual immunity either.  He won twice in his whole life!  Malcolm is a strategic and social threat, i.e. the things that Joe couldn't do if his life depended on it.

I really wish he just had not come back for Caramoan.  It was too soon, he was too tired, with no way to make inroads in the pre-alliances.  It would really have been the perfect amount of time between Philippines and now to make his triumphant return to Survivor, and I'd be more excited to see him again.  But I am nevertheless excited, because he is my Survivor Boyfriend after all.

[loki567]

Quote

He can't because he's not like Joe at all!  Where do people get this?  Is it the hair?

It's definitely the hair. I remember him getting Ozzy comparisons during the Philippines.  

You're right. He's fine challenge-wise but more of a social player than anything else. 

[Hera]

I agree with both @KimberStormer and @loki567 above. Any comparisons to Joe are completely superficial. Malcolm is never a hindrance in challenges, but he's not a challenge monster either. I also don't remember him being particularly handy around camp, though he never got called lazy either. His game is the the social one, which pretty much guarantees that I'll never get sick of seeing him return—well, that and he's pretty entertaining in interviews.

[Nashville]

IIRC Malcolm's comp strength was puzzles, not physical challenges.

[ljenkins782]

On 2/10/2017 at 10:37 PM, KimberStormer said:

He can't because he's not like Joe at all!  Where do people get this?  Is it the hair?

Malcom's not a challenge beast.  He's fine.  But he's not great in any way.  Matsing lost every challenge!  He wasn't impressive in individual immunity either.  He won twice in his whole life!  Malcolm is a strategic and social threat, i.e. the things that Joe couldn't do if his life depended on it.

I really wish he just had not come back for Caramoan.  It was too soon, he was too tired, with no way to make inroads in the pre-alliances.  It would really have been the perfect amount of time between Philippines and now to make his triumphant return to Survivor, and I'd be more excited to see him again.  But I am nevertheless excited, because he is my Survivor Boyfriend after all.

True. Isn't he literally the only person to ever win the "get an advantage in the next challenge" thing and then lose said challenge? He stood out amongst a middling group of competitors and he certainly looked the part of the challenge beast. 

Malcolm never did much for me either, I didn't dislike him but I didn't care that much either. My favorite moments of his were when he was making fun of Abi. 

[kikaha]

I disagree with many of you.  Malcolm was real good at challenges, including most physical challenges.  It just happened that the FIC his first year required one thing he was awful at.  So the advantage really was no advantage for him at all. 

His second season he under-performed at challenges, but that was because he played a few weeks after Philippines, and his body was destroyed. 

Malcolm was a bit unlucky not to win both those seasons (though if he'd won the first, I don't think he would have played the second).  I think he would have won the majority of FICs Survivor has offered up; and if Corinne had simply kept her mouth shut, IMO Malcolm was the odds-on favorite to win his second season as well.  

[KimberStormer]

I think he's fine, as I said; it's just that people like Joe (or Ozzy) are on a different level entirely.  I think he's very good at the social game, and that's why he came very close to winning Philippines and managed to work himself into at least a possibility of winning Caramoan despite being the odd man out of the Favorites team.

[Lamb18]

I just remember when he and Denise were the last two people on their tribe and they were clinging to each other for survival (figuratively). And they stayed allied until the very end when Denise voted for him. I remember he was mad about that!

[ByaNose]

And, here I thought he was born with the man-bun. He looks like a totally different person. It's not a good or bad thing just way different then I pictured:

 

http://www.dartmouthsports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=591965

[ljenkins782]

On 2/17/2017 at 2:15 PM, ByaNose said:

And, here I thought he was born with the man-bun. He looks like a totally different person. It's not a good or bad thing just way different then I pictured:

 

http://www.dartmouthsports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=591965

Wow, I'm not sure I would have recognized him if this wasn't in his thread. He looks so different with short hair and extra weight. 

[ByaNose]

18 minutes ago, ljenkins782 said:

Wow, I'm not sure I would have recognized him if this wasn't in his thread. He looks so different with short hair and extra weight. 

I remember when Malcolm's brother came for the family visit. He was really heavy or stocky like Malcolm was in college. I guess he put that weight on for football....I guess. He looks good now and he doesn't even have a 6 pack. I like that look. You look in shape but it doesn't look like you were in a gym all day.

[azshadowwalker]

He played on the defensive line. As his bio says, he was undersized for that, even. Said he competed in discus in high school. Those guys tend to be bigger, as well. He didn't need the extra weight once that was over. 

As for his Kenny Chesney fixation, I am just shaking my head. 

[Constantinople]

Does Malcolm hold the record for most Team Immunity Challenge losses?

[loki567]

I doubt it. When Malcolm transferred over to the yellow tribe during Philippines, he didn't lose another challenge. And I think the favorites only lost one during Caramoan. My guess would be Russell, considering the utter curb stomping his tribe took in Samoa and the Villains lost about half the challenges in HvV.  

[LadyChatts]

I'd probably say Stephenie LaGrossa.  Between Palau, Guatemala, and HvsV, with the combo of IC/RC/and the individual challenges.

[loki567]

Oh yeah, that's definitely better. 

[ByaNose]

OMG! 

I'm honestly shocked. I wasn't expecting it this early & he was so clearly getting the winners edit. LOL!!! Once again, I'm foooled by the editors. Will I ever learn?!?!?

Edited March 23, 2017 by ByaNose

[LadyChatts]

So long to one of my beloved man bun crushes.  He deserved better than to be taken out by a stupid twist and puppet master with a bunch of puppets that don't realize they are getting played.  Really hoping JT, Debbie, Tai, and Sierra are gone ASAP.

[LadyChatts]

Malcolm's day after (looks like CBS uploaded extra clips this week):

[KimberStormer]

Nooooooooo my beautiful Malcolm :(

[Hera]

I'm sad he's out so early. I realize that other players randomly getting in your way is part of the game, but it really does feel like Malcolm has suffered from it more than most people: first Lisa accidentally discovered his idol in Philippines, then Corinne's big mouth tanked his game in Caramoan, and now this. I suppose part of it is that he's likeable to viewers (and, apparently, to other players), so I remember not enjoying it when it happens to him, and the other part is because he's never won, so we have to be shown why/rationalize explanations that blame people other than Malcolm for his losses.

[Wings]

18 hours ago, KimberStormer said:

Nooooooooo my beautiful Malcolm :(

I am with you on this one.  I read the spoiler so I have suffered for weeks knowing his end!  What a nifty guy.  sigh

[MissEwa]

I spoiled myself before I watched it and I was still gutted. I don't always love his decisions but he's always an interesting player, and just so enthusiastic, and a fantastic narrator. I do think the idea that he's a challenge monster is overblown but he is definitely decent and he just *looks* like a physical player. Also, just this season there have been a couple of challenges where he's come in at the end with his tribe behind and either won it or nearly won it - he very nearly pulled out that snake challenge in the first episode from so, so far behind - so I get why he'd be seen as a threat.  

[ByaNose]

Josh Wigler posted a great video of Malcolm's boot at the RHAP Live Show. Even, for a reality show the reaction was pretty epic. You know exactly when Malcolm's name comes up on the parchment paper. LOL!!

[laurakaye]

13 hours ago, wings707 said:

I am with you on this one.  I read the spoiler so I have suffered for weeks knowing his end!  What a nifty guy.  sigh

At least they could've let him make it to jury so we could keep seeing him and his hair.  JT, this is ALL YOUR FAULT.

[ByaNose]

I'm sure Malcolm had an awesome pre jury trip. I doubt he was upset for too long. This would have been the perfect time to show Ponderosa Pre-Jury. And, yes, it was all JT's fault. If he was going to sandbag Sandra he should have told Malcolm first. Boy! He really wanted her gone. I thought you would want to keep another winner in front of you. There are meat shields and there are winner sheilds. Didn't JT know that?!?!?